<p>A draft bill criminalising torture and enforced disappearance has passed the House of Representatives with 359 votes in favour, 1 abstention and 2 decided not to vote. The bill will now go to the senate for final consideration.</p>

<p>A <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9616">draft bill</a> criminalising torture and enforced disappearance has completed a reconciliation process and now goes to a second reading in parliament expected on 23-25 February, according to the committee scrutinizing the bill.</p>

<p>The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), a local human rights organisation, reports that a draft bill criminalising torture and enforced disappearance is nearing completion.&nbsp; Last September, a preliminary draft passed a first reading in parliament.&nbsp; According to CrCF, which has been involved in revising the draft for a 2nd reading, it will be finalised by 22 December.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thailand&rsquo;s parliament should amend the draft law on torture and enforced disappearance without delay in order to ensure compliance with Thailand&rsquo;s international legal obligations, said the ICJ and Amnesty International.</p>

<p>On 30 September, the 46th Military Circle Court accepted a case of misconduct and unintentional killing against 9 soldiers who beat to death Wichian Puaksom, a newly enlisted private, in Narathiwat province, according to the Cross Cultural Foundation (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CrCF.Thailand/photos/a.417098988337393/4376692165711369/">CrCF</a>).</p>

<p>On 4 October 2021, the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia welcomes Thailand&rsquo;s initial approval of the draft law on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance and urges the Government to ensure the legislation fully meets international human rights standards and enact it promptly.</p>

<p>Amnesty International calls on the Thai authorities to pass a law which includes definitions of torture and enforced disappearances in full accordance with international law and offers justice to victims, after the Thai parliament voted yesterday (16 September) to approve the first reading of a bill criminalizing torture and enforced disappearance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A newly-launched book documents the ongoing case of Somsak Chuenchit and his 12-year effort to bring the police officers who tortured his son by beating and suffocating&nbsp;him with plastic bags during an interrogation.</p>

<p>As uncertainty looms over whether a bill to criminalize torture and enforced disappearance will be approved by parliament, friends and relatives of the disappeared rallied on 8 September to demand its immediate passing to put an end to impunity and harassment from the authorities.</p>

<p>After repeated delays over the past 7 years, a bill to criminalize torture and enforced disappearance may be debated in parliament as part of an emergency agenda. Many past cases have involved activities by the authorities which will become illegal if the bill passes.</p>

<p>Eight months after the disappearance of activist in exile Wanchalearm Satsaksit, his family is still searching for answers, while very little progress has been made by the authorities. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After more than a decade of deliberation, it is critical that the proposed law criminalising torture and enforced disappearance in Thailand meet international human rights standards to ensure both prevention and justice for these heinous crimes, the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia said today (17 July).&nbsp;</p>